An analysis of specific mouse liver cDNA clones

Several liver secretory protein cDNAs were isolated from a female BALB/c mouse liver cDNA library. The mouse major urinary proteins (MUPs) are encoded within a multigene family of about 35 genes. Most MUPs are members of either Group 1 or Group 2 sequences, which can be distinguished by DNA sequence divergence. Two of the sequenced clones, MUP 8 and MUP 11 were of the Group 1 type. A third MUP clone, MUP 15, has diverged from both Group 1 and Group 2 sequences (i.e. BS 6 and BS 2,3) by 15% and 17.4% respectively. The divergence is twice as great over exons 1-3 and the 3' terminal 68 nucleotides of the comparison, as it is over the intervening sequence. This suggests that an ancestral conversion event has occurred. MUP 15, like some Group 2 genes, has a longer signal peptide than Group 1 genes and differs from both Groups in having a probable N-linked glycosylation site and a different splice configuration between exons 6 and 7.Transferrin is the major iron binding protein in vertebrate serum. Transferrin cDNA clones corresponding to 1.16 Kb of the 3'half of the mRNA were isolated. The clones were identical where they overlapped, which implies that there is one predominantly expressed transferrin gene in mouse liver. Comparison of the mouse exonic sequence with human and chicken transferrins showed 18.0% and 35.5% replacement and 38.4% and 99.0% silent site divergence respectively. There are also small areas of higher homology within the domains, which may define iron binding sites. Preliminary investigations into two other cDNA clones are discussed. These correspond to the 3' end (950 Bp) of the third component of mouse complement and the N-terminal half, (810 Bp) of mouse contrapsin, which is homologous to human alpha^- antichymotrypsin

Using retracted journal articles in psychology to understand research misconduct in the social sciences: What is to be done?

This paper explores the nature and impact of research misconduct in psychology by analyzing 160 articles that were retracted from prominent scholarly journals between 1998 and 2017. We compare findings with recent studies of retracted papers in economics, and business and management, to profile practices that are likely to be problematic in cognate social science disciplines. In psychology, the principal reason for retraction was data fabrication. Retractions took longer to make, and generally were from higher ranked and more prestigious journals, than in the two cognate disciplines. We recommend that journal editors should be more forthcoming in the reasons they provide for article retractions. We also recommend that the discipline of psychology gives a greater priority to the publication of replication studies; initiates a debate about how to respond to failed replications; adopts a more critical attitude to the importance of attaining statistical significance; discourages p-hacking and Hypothesizing After Results are Known (HARKing); assesses the long-term effects of pre-registering research; and supports stronger procedures to attest to the authenticity of data in research papers. Our contribution locates these issues in the context of a growing crisis of confidence in the value of social science research. We also challenge individual researchers to reassert the primacy of disinterested academic inquiry above pressures that can lead to an erosion of scholarly integrity

Visualising phase change in a brushite-based calcium phosphate ceramic

The resorption of brushite-based bone cements has been shown to be highly unpredictable, with strong dependence on a number of conditions. One of the major factors is phase transformation, with change to more stable phases such as hydroxyapatite affecting the rate of resorption. Despite its importance, the analysis of phase transformation has been largely undertaken using methods that only detect crystalline composition and give no information on the spatial distribution of the phases. In this study confocal Raman microscopy was used to map cross-sections of brushite cylinders aged in Phosphate Buffered Saline, Foetal Bovine Serum, Dulbecco’s – Minimum Essential Medium (with and without serum). Image maps showed the importance of ageing medium on the phase composition throughout the ceramic structure. When aged without serum, there was dissolution of the brushite phase concomitant to the deposition of octacalcium phosphate (OCP) around the periphery of the sample. The deposition of OCP was detectable within five days and reduced the rate of brushite dissolution from the material. The use of serum, even at a concentration of 10vol% prevented phase transformation. This paper demonstrates the value of confocal Raman microscopy in monitoring phase change in biocements; it also demonstrates the problems with assessing material degradation in non-serum containing media

Crystal structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis FadB2 implicated in mycobacterial β-oxidation

The intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of tuberculosis, which is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. The survival of M. tuberculosis in host macrophages through long-lasting periods of persistence depends, in part, on breaking down host cell lipids as a carbon source. The critical role of fatty-acid catabolism in this organism is underscored by the extensive redundancy of the genes implicated in β-oxidation (∼100 genes). In a previous study, the enzymology of the M. tuberculosisl-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase FadB2 was characterized. Here, the crystal structure of this enzyme in a ligand-free form is reported at 2.1 Å resolution. FadB2 crystallized as a dimer with three unique dimer copies per asymmetric unit. The structure of the monomer reveals a dual Rossmann-fold motif in the N-terminal domain, while the helical C-terminal domain mediates dimer formation. Comparison with the CoA- and NAD + -bound human orthologue mitochondrial hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase shows extensive conservation of the residues that mediate substrate and cofactor binding. Superposition with the multi-catalytic homologue M. tuberculosis FadB, which forms a trifunctional complex with the thiolase FadA, indicates that FadB has developed structural features that prevent its self-association as a dimer. Conversely, FadB2 is unable to substitute for FadB in the tetrameric FadA–FadB complex as it lacks the N-terminal hydratase domain of FadB. Instead, FadB2 may functionally (or physically) associate with the enoyl-CoA hydratase EchA8 and the thiolases FadA2, FadA3, FadA4 or FadA6 as suggested by interrogation of the STRING protein-network database

Desarrollo de una balanceadora electrónica para rotores de motores eléctricos para la empresa Siproelectrik S.A.

Un problema importante que se producen en los motores y generadores eléctricos es la vibración excesiva, lo que causa daños significativos que afectan gravemente tanto los componentes mecánicos y en menor medida la parte eléctrica, reduciendo significativamente la vida útil de cualquier máquina giratoria. Aproximadamente el 40 % de estos excesos de vibraciones se debe a una avería en el rotor, que pudo ser originada por una sobrecarga, golpes constantes entre otras posibles causas. Por esta razón, en la empresa Siproelectrik S.A fue implementada una balanceadora electrónica, la cual es capaz de soportar un peso de hasta 2 T (toneladas) permitiendo así analizar vibraciones en rotores de gran potencia. Dicha balanceadora es capaz de ajustarse a cualquier tipo de tamaño de rotor, ya que consta de múltiples partes móviles, además de contar con puntos de sujeción específicos donde se coloca los sensores, siendo estos un acelerómetro piezoeléctrico y un tacómetro digital que permiten obtener las señales de vibración y velocidad respectivamente. El método para analizar el punto de corrección se conoce como cuatro corridas sin fase y consiste en colocar unos contrapesos en puntos específicos del rotor lo que ocasiona diferentes valores de vibración y mediante el uso de ecuaciones matemáticas se determina el punto exacto de compensación logrando así reducir el exceso de vibraciones, consiguiendo un giro uniforme, lo que permitirá el buen funcionamiento de la maquina giratoria una vez montada y puesta en marcha.An important problem that occurred in the electric motors and generators it’s the excessive vibrations, what it causes several damages that affect the mechanical and electrical components reducing like this useful life to any rotary machine. Proximately the 40% of these vibrations that occurred due a fault in the rotor, originated to an overload, constant blows r other wises. To this reason in the Siproelectrik S.A factory was build an electric balancer, which support a weight near to the 2T (tons), allowing analyze the electric rotor’s vibrations in the powerful machines. This balancer has the possibility to adjust to some kind of rotor’s form what it has different moving parts and different specific points of subjection where the sensors are placed; there are piezoelectric accelerometer and digital tachometer. The method to determine the point of correction it’s known like four runs without phase and consist to put weights in specific points to rotor that generate different amplitude values and with the use to mathematics resources select the exactly compensation point, reducing these exes to vibrations and achieving a uniform turn giving a good performance to the rotary machine assembled and commissioning

Reliability and validity of clinically accessible smartphone applications to measure joint range of motion: A systematic review

Measuring joint range of motion is an important skill for many allied health professionals. While the Universal Goniometer is the most commonly utilised clinical tool for measuring joint range of motion, the evolution of smartphone technology and applications (apps) provides the clinician with more measurement options. However, the reliability and validity of these smartphones and apps is still somewhat uncertain. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature regarding the intra- and inter-rater reliability and validity of smartphones and apps to measure joint range of motion. Eligible studies were published in English peer-reviewed journals with full text available, involving the assessment of reliability and/or validity of a non-videographic smartphone app to measure joint range of motion in participants >18 years old. An electronic search using PubMed, Medline via Ovid, EMBASE, CINAHL, and SPORTSDiscus was performed. The risk of bias was assessed using a standardised appraisal tool. Twenty-three of the eligible 25 studies exceeded the minimum 60% score to be classified as a low risk of bias, although 3 of the 13 criteria were not achieved in >50% of the studies. Most of the studies demonstrated adequate intra-rater or inter-rater reliability and/or validity for >50% of the range of motion tests across all joints assessed. However, this level of evidence appeared weaker for absolute (e.g. mean difference ± limit of agreement, minimal detectable change) than relative (e.g. intraclass correlation, correlation) measures; and for spinal rotation than spinal extension, flexion and lateral flexion. Our results provide clinicians with sufficient evidence to support the use of smartphones and apps in place of goniometers to measure joint motion. Future research should address some methodological limitations of the literature, especially including the inclusion of absolute and not just relative reliability and validity statistics

Effects of an on-board psychosocial programme on stress, resilience, and job satisfaction amongst a sample of merchant seafarers

Background: Seafarers are an occupational group amongst those at highest risk for stress, which may adversely affect their mental health. The primary aim of this study was to assess the effects of a psychosocial programme on perceived stress, resilience, and job satisfaction among a sample of merchant seafarers.Materials and methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted using a work questionnaire administered by a large shipping company. The matched subjects technique and multivariate analysis of covariance were conducted using a theoretical model of the programme’s effects on job satisfaction, resilience, and perceived stress.Results: A significant interaction between programme participation and weeks on board indicated that the effects of weeks on board on perceived stress differed significantly for the intervention group and matched control group. Weeks on board had a significant effect for perceived stress for the control group (p = 0.02), but not for the intervention group (p = 0.857).Conclusions: These findings indicate that participation in the programme moderated the effects of weeks on board on perceived stress, suggesting that the programme may have safeguarded participants against the effects of weeks on board on perceived stress. Importantly, however, a work environment that is experienced as supportive, inclusive and just is necessary as a cornerstone for individually-focused psychosocial interventions to be optimally applied

Emergence of Increased Resistance and Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Despite Treatment Adherence, South Africa

Improved infection control, rapid diagnostic tools, enhanced screening strategies, and pharmacokinetic studies are needed